Russia to hold 2nd meeting with US on diplomatic normalization in Istanbul

Russia announced Tuesday that its second meeting with the United States on the normalization of diplomatic relations will take place in Istanbul.

At a press briefing in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not specify a date for the meeting but referred to President Vladimir Putin, who had requested briefings from Lavrov and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov on the progress of talks with the U.S. concerning the Ukraine conflict.

Lavrov emphasized that the primary focus of the discussions between Russia and the U.S. is on three key issues: resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which now includes a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure; the restoration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative; and the removal of “irritants” that hinder bilateral ties.

According to Lavrov, these “irritants” notably obstruct the functioning of both the Russian Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

“A meeting took place in Istanbul, and now a second meeting is being prepared. In the meantime, communication continues through phone calls and video conferences,” Lavrov said.

The foreign minister noted that the “embassy issues” date back to the Barack Obama administration (2009-2017), just before the first term of the Trump administration.

“I refrain from making predictions, but noticeable progress has been achieved, reflecting the determination of our American partners to eliminate these wholly unacceptable impediments to the smooth operation of diplomacy in each other’s capitals,” he added.

On February 27, Russian and U.S. delegations met at the residence of the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul to discuss the operations of their respective embassies as part of their bilateral efforts.

Moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure

Lavrov further addressed the moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure, stating that Defense Minister Belousov presented facts to the Russian Security Council confirming Ukraine’s violations of the agreed moratorium. This agreement, declared by Russia and Ukraine after a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18, aimed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

“Belousov said that the moratorium is not being observed by Ukraine. Russian energy facilities have been under attack continuously, with only short breaks. He listed all the targets of Ukrainian drones, including the most recent attacks,” Lavrov said.

Despite these violations, Lavrov insisted that Russia has fully complied with the agreement. He added that no order had been issued from the Russian side to lift the ban on strikes.

“You may recall that at the time of the moratorium’s declaration, seven drones were heading toward their targets in Ukraine. They were intercepted by our air defense systems and aircraft patrolling the skies. Since then, we have adhered to this agreement 100%,” Lavrov emphasized.

Violation evidence gathered

Lavrov also confirmed that Russia had gathered evidence of these violations and shared the documentation with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the United Nations, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to demonstrate the Ukrainian government’s actions.

Regarding the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Belousov noted that the U.S. is reviewing Russia’s proposals and had assured a prompt response.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports, was intended to also eliminate obstacles to the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. However, this aspect of the deal was never implemented, leading Moscow to refuse its extension in July 2023.